protein
Ankyrin-2
aka ANK-2
Gene
ANK2
Organism
Homo sapiens(9606)
Length
3957 aa
Mass
433,715 Da
Ankyrin-2 (ANK2) is a large cytoplasmic protein that functions as a crucial scaffold for organizing and stabilizing ion transporters and channels at the cell membrane (UniProt: Q01484). It mediates the localization of Na/K ATPases, Na/Ca exchangers, and other transport proteins in cardiomyocytes and skeletal muscle cells, and also participates in endocytic trafficking and cell migration through interactions with dynactin and phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate-positive organelles.
ANK2 plays particularly important roles in cardiac and skeletal muscle function, including the regulation of sarcoplasmic reticulum organization and myocyte contraction rate. In the retina, it is similarly required for coordinated expression of ion transporters in photoreceptor cells. Mutations in ANK2 are associated with Long QT syndrome 4 (LQT4), a cardiac arrhythmia disorder characterized by repolarization defects and syncope risk.
ANK2 is classified as an SFARI category 1 gene (SFARI Cat 1), indicating it has strong evidence for involvement in autism spectrum disorder risk based on genetic findings in affected individuals.
Generated from the curated entity record below. May contain errors — verify against source links.
Proteomics Evidence · AD
↓ Down in ADP3
not detected
P2
not detected
S2
-0.821
S3
not detected
Mean log₂FC across detected fractions: -0.8211 (1 of 4 fractions detected)
Human post-mortem AD brain vs age-matched controls, TMT-labeled, 4 subcellular fractions (P2, P3, S2, S3), DDA proteomics.
Genetic Evidence · ASD
High confidence — strong genetic evidence from multiple studies
Source: SFARI Gene database · gene.sfari.org
This protein is implicated in both ASD and Alzheimer's Disease. View all cross-disease proteins →
Related Publications
Browse all →Tau molecular diversity contributes to clinical heterogeneity in Alzheimer's disease.
Dujardin Simon et al.Nature medicine2020PMID 32572268Deep Multilayer Brain Proteomics Identifies Molecular Networks in Alzheimer's Disease Progression.
Bai Bing et al.Neuron2020PMID 31926610A Multi-network Approach Identifies Protein-Specific Co-expression in Asymptomatic and Symptomatic Alzheimer's Disease.
Seyfried Nicholas T et al.Cell systems2017PMID 27989508Large-scale deep multi-layer analysis of Alzheimer's disease brain reveals strong proteomic disease-related changes not observed at the RNA level.
Johnson Erik C B et al.Nature neuroscience2022PMID 35115731Organization and regulation of gene transcription.
Cramer PatrickNature2019PMID 31462772Inherited and De Novo Genetic Risk for Autism Impacts Shared Networks.
Ruzzo Elizabeth K et al.Cell2019PMID 31398340Inherited and multiple de novo mutations in autism/developmental delay risk genes suggest a multifactorial model.
Guo Hui et al.Molecular autism2018PMID 30564305Whole genome sequencing resource identifies 18 new candidate genes for autism spectrum disorder.
C Yuen Ryan K et al.Nature neuroscience2017PMID 28263302Identification of common genetic risk variants for autism spectrum disorder.
Grove Jakob et al.Nature genetics2019PMID 30804558Synaptic, transcriptional and chromatin genes disrupted in autism.
De Rubeis Silvia et al.Nature2014PMID 25363760
Function
Plays an essential role in the localization and membrane stabilization of ion transporters and ion channels in several cell types, including cardiomyocytes, as well as in striated muscle cells. In skeletal muscle, required for proper localization of DMD and DCTN4 and for the formation and/or stability of a special subset of microtubules associated with costameres and neuromuscular junctions. In cardiomyocytes, required for coordinate assembly of Na/Ca exchanger, SLC8A1/NCX1, Na/K ATPases ATP1A1 and ATP1A2 and inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (InsP3) receptors at sarcoplasmic reticulum/sarcolemma sites. Required for expression and targeting of SPTBN1 in neonatal cardiomyocytes and for the regulation of neonatal cardiomyocyte contraction rate (PubMed:12571597). In the inner segment of rod photoreceptors, required for the coordinated expression of the Na/K ATPase, Na/Ca exchanger and beta-2-spectrin (SPTBN1) (By similarity). Plays a role in endocytosis and intracellular protein transport. Associates with phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate (PI3P)-positive organelles and binds dynactin to promote long-range motility of cells. Recruits RABGAP1L to (PI3P)-positive early endosomes, where RABGAP1L inactivates RAB22A, and promotes polarized trafficking to the leading edge of the migrating cells. Part of the ANK2/RABGAP1L complex which is required for the polarized recycling of fibronectin receptor ITGA5 ITGB1 to the plasma membrane that enables continuous directional cell migration (By similarity)
Disease associations
Long QT syndrome 4LQT4
A heart disorder characterized by a prolonged QT interval on the ECG and polymorphic ventricular arrhythmias. They cause syncope and sudden death in response to exercise or emotional stress, and can present with a sentinel event of sudden cardiac death in infancy. Long QT syndrome type 4 shows many atypical features compared to classical long QT syndromes, including pronounced sinus bradycardia, polyphasic T waves and atrial fibrillation. Cardiac repolarization defects may be not as severe as in classical LQT syndromes and prolonged QT interval on EKG is not a consistent feature.
Sources
Last updated 5/8/2026, 1:02:40 AM